Thursday, 7 January 2010

Falling With Style Book of the Year 2009

So here it is, after much deliberation, I'm about to open the golden envelope of destiny & change some author's life forever.....Well no, actually, I'm going to try & distill my reading list for last year into some firm recommendations.As I said recently, my recommendations are entirely subjective. A book gets on the list if it has moved me, stirred me, changed my life pattern in some way. When you remember that I cried my way through High School Musical then you will realise the herculean task I have before me to filter books out on these criteria! Here goes....

Top 5 Fiction1/ Rebels & TraitorsWhat a magnificent achievement. Lindsay Davis writes 700+ pages on the English Civil War. What's more, she weaves in a grand narrative, a story which spans the years either side of this horrific conflict. The changes in a nation, the shock of regicide, the sheer brutality of life in the 17th century are brightened by a 'will they won't they' romance which is only resolved finally in the last pages. This book dominated my life for a fortnight & when I finally put it down no other writing satisfied me for weeks.

2/ Wolf HallHilary Mantel's epic from the Tudor Court of Thomas Cromwell would have won in any other year. She writes on a similar scale to Davis, but has such a strong voice for Cromwell that you wonder if she really hears him in her head. Dark, disturbing, gripping.

3/ Fire & SwordSimon Scarrow has written lot's of historical novels & this book in his Napolean/Wellington series is fantastic.

4/ TwilightI read these novels by Meyer simply to keep myself informed of our ever changing youth culture. THey are all good, but the first stands alone. What a read, full of old fashioned romance & adventure wrapped up in post modern teenage angst.

5/ Child 44This novel is set in the deeply depressing post war Soviet Union. It is a fine achievement, strong writing, a story you can't put down & an authentic feel.

Top 5 Non Fiction1/ The Lost City of ZThis story of the adventures of Amazonian explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett has changed my life. You can look back at earlier blogs to see the boys own dreams it stirred in me. That the story is told through the eyes of author Grann retracing Fawcetts steps makes it all the more incredible. It truely deserves a wider audience & should be mandatory reading for all Dad's & their boys at bedtime.

2/ They told me their storiesEdward Morris has collected incredible first hand accounts of children & young people that were involved in the early years of the Asuza Street Revival. This is not well written, it has a folksy long winded intro, but I challenge you not to be moved in your guts with longing for these stories to be seen in our day & through our young people.

3/ Worship MattersThis is quite simply the best book I've read on worship in years. It is practical, biblical & simple. Again, it should be a required text for church leadership teams & worship leaders. I can pay it no higher compliment than using it with our own team for our training in the next year.

4/ So you don't want to go to church anymore?A strange & engaging book from the emerging church stable which moved me to think & live differently. Ultimately, Colson is blinkered in his conclusions about the established church, but his heart for real Christ like community & simple life together is compelling.

5/ The Ultimate Treasure HuntThis book from the Bethel stable isn't the best read I've had all year, but all the time I had it open a voice in my head was telling me, 'take this seriously & your life will never be the same again!' Is that a threat or a promise? Read the book for yourself & find out that you too can be an ordinary believer living an extraordinary kingdom lifestyle.

And the Book of the year is.......................The Lost City of Z by David Grann. I'll send his prize in the post. The best compliment you could pay is to go out, buy the book & dream of adventures!Here's to more great reading in 2010!